Queen Camilla has been busy stepping in for her husband King Charles during his cancer treatment, and today she’s undertaking a series of engagements in Northern Ireland. Queen Camilla is all smiles as she begins a day of engagements in Northern Ireland today. Wearing a green wool crepe dress and coat by Bruce Oldfield, the 76-year-old popped into Coffey’s Butchers, Knotts Bakery & Arcadia Delicatessen on Lisburn Road, Belfast, to celebrate Northern Ireland’s artisan producers.
The Queen has given lots of food to take home and pass on to the King, who, she says, is “doing very well.” She added: “I try to keep him in order.” The royal spent last night at Hillsborough Castle, having travelled there after spending the day at the Isle of Man to confer city status on the Borough of Douglas. Doing her visit to The Arcadia deli on Thursday, shop assistant Brenda Robb handed over a get well card for King Charles, and extended her best wishes.
As well as giving an update on his health, Queen Camilla said that the monarch is “was very disappointed he couldn’t come [to North Ireland].”The Queen last visited Northern Ireland in May 2023, shortly after the coronation. This is her 22nd trip to Northern Ireland but her first without King Charles. Camilla arrived in Northern Ireland on Wednesday as part of a two-day visit.The Queen has travelled alone as King Charles is currently taking time away from public duties due to his ongoing cancer treatment.
Camilla’s arrival at Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, the royal residence in the region. was marked by a bugler from the Hillsborough Ford Guard playing. As she met crowds in Douglas on Wednesday, the Queen was introduced to a baby named Louis. Unclear whether she was noting her teenage grandson or the King’s five-year-old grandson Prince Louis, the Queen then said, “I have a Louis grandson… quite a handful.”
The Queen was also overheard talking about two of her grandsons – who are twins – Louis and Gus – meaning she was likely talking about her biological grandson. Speaking after meeting the Queen, mum Rachael – who bought along her 15-week-old twins Louis and Oliver – said: “Camilla came over to admire the boys, asked their names and said it gets easier when they are two. “It was so lovely to see her. She is doing a great job and she looks fabulous.”
